Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, Asantehene has warned chiefs against meddling in
politics and other negative practices that affected development in
their communities.
He
noted that chiefs were supposed to lead their people to undertake
meaningful development programmes to improve their living standards
rather than inciting and making unnecessary protests and demonstrations
in their areas of jurisdiction.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu gave the warning when addressing members of the Ashanti Regional House of Chiefs at a meeting in Kumasi.
He
commended various committees in the house for their contributions
towards deliberations and asked them to continue with that zeal to
improve on their performances.
Otumfuo Osei Tutu, however,
expressed concern about the work of the Judicial Committee which
settled only six cases last year, and asked the members to be more
committed and dedicated in the settlement of cases.
He
noted that efficient and effective performance of the Judicial
Committee would ensure peace and harmony in the communities to enable
chiefs perform their duties without any hindrance.
The
Asantehene said negotiations were underway for Parliament to pass the
Chieftaincy Act and hoped that it would help develop the institution.
Otumfuo
Osei Tutu expressed concern about the increasing environmental
degradation especially along river bodies and forests and asked the
Forestry Commission to institute effective and pragmatic measures to
check the situation.
Professor Nii Ashi Kortey, Chief
Executive Officer of the Forestry Commission, said under the National
Forestry Plantation Project which begun in 2002 about 123,000 hectares
had been planted with various tree species out of which 48,200 hectares
were in Ashanti Region.
He noted that forests had been
depleted due to increasing bushfires and over-logging of timber and
asked the chiefs to encourage their people to undertake forestry
plantation projects to help plant more trees to conserve the forests.
Professor
Kortey, urged them to ensure that timber contractors who operated in
their areas paid royalties to them as part of their social
responsibilities to support them in the execution of development
projects.
Mr Kofi Nsenkyire, Chairman of Forestry
Commission, said in spite of the many constraints, the Commission was
working hard to address some of the concerns raised by the chiefs to
protect the forest.
He announced that arrangements were far
advanced by the Commission to pay arrears of royalties to them to
develop their communities.
Mr Nsenkyire appealed to the chiefs to assist in protecting the environment to ensure sustainable development.
Source: GNA